The Nigerian military has confirmed that Michika town has been retaken from Boko Haram terrorists. The military dislodged the terrorists yesterday. Currently, the Nigerian army is conducting mopping up operations in the nearby settlements.
The Nigerian defense establishment has reiterated that many Boko Haram terrorists were killed with the military just suffering a few material losses and some injured soldiers.
Michika town is located in Adamawa State – a region which has suffered repeated assaults by Boko Haram terrorists. The town fell to Boko Haram late last year, and the militants have controlled the area for months on end with the resultant collapse of economic life and civilization in the town. Its recapture by government troops signifies a right step towards the return of rule of law in the region.
Past military accounts regarding operations conducted against Boko Haram have been inconsistent and out of touch with reality; and this has led to the Nigerian military being criticized of ineffectiveness, dishonesty and complacence.
Intelligence reports indicate that the Chadian army and air force are present in the region, and it is quite probable that the Nigerian military was assisted by Chadian troops to retake Michika town. The nations of the Lake Chad region – Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Niger and Chad – have created a regional military force to combat the emboldened Boko Haram insurgency.
